Wednesday, July 7, 2010

"Living in the Security The Father's Love"

Mark 1:9-11: Not long afterwards Jesus came from Nazareth in the province of Galiee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, he saw heaven opening and the Spirit coming down on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my own dear Son. I am pleased with you."

John 13:1-5: It was now the day before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. He had always loved those in the world who were his own, and he loved them to the very end.

Jesus and his disciples were at supper. The Devil had already put into th heart of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, the thought of betraying Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had given him complete power; he knew that he had come from God and was going to God. So he rose from the table, took off his outer garment, and tied a towel round his waist. Then he poured some water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with the towel round his waist.

Bishop Dr. Hwa Yung

Colosians 3:21: Parents, do not irritate your children, or they will become discouraged.

*He can send his own children to death if he wants to
*It is a terrible word
*Paul reminded the fathers that it is very different from father's who obey the law
*True fatherhood begins with proper understanding of what true manhood is
*lack of understand how culture and family works
*Most cultures are man dominated
*Fathers can be known as a Rambo or a whimp
Rambo= symbol for great authocratice powerful man
-no housework, cannot serve, accept to be served, don't care about children's needs
*It is not uncommon
*Whimp- gentle, caring, worse if there is a dominating wife
*dysfunctional homes -> dysfunctional parents -> dysfunctional children and the cycle goes on
*We're always hungry for inner security in our lives
*As christians, we are meant to break the vicious cycle
1. Man or women are meant to make our home but don't wait till tomorrow
2. We need to remind our parents to reassure our kids
*When we fail to affirm or lack proper bond, it is at the root for gender confusion
*Girls need their mothers and vice versa to be role models
*without role models, children will be confused
*the main root most of the time is improper bonding between children and parent

*Proverbs 31:
Advice to a King
These are the solemn words which King Lemuel's mother said to him: "You are my own dear son, the answer to my prayers. What shall I tell you? Don't spend all your energy on sex and all your money on women; they have destroyed kings. Listen, Lemuel. Kings should not drink wine or have a craving for alcohol. When they drink, they forget the laws and ignore the rights of people in need. Alcohol is for people who are dying, for those who are in misery. Let them drink and forget their poverty and unhappiness.

"Speak up for people who cannot speak for themselves. Protect the rights of all who are helpless. Speak for them and be a righteous judge. Protect the rights of the poor and needy."


*Story of truth
*These are dominant women
*Who is the model of all manhood?
*John 13: Jesus the teacher, the great miracle worker, the healer
-Jesus washes His disciples feet
*usually a servant would wash their feet but there was no servant
*Jesus sees the sorrow of Lazarus' sisters
*John 11:35: Jesus wept.

*He allowed sinful women to touch him
*Jesus shows us what a man should be. It is different from the typical man
*Look at the image of manhood that God exemplifies
*The world talks about the leadership
*Leader is a boss that pushes around
*Don't be so caught up
See the lifes of Jesus and servanthood
*moral and spiritual quality
*How to learn to practise real manhood
*1. Jesus exemplify manhood becuase he knew his identity, his destiny, he was secured
*Luke 3:22: and the Holy Spirit came down upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my own dear Son. I am pleased with you."

-You are my son, I love you, I'm proud of you
*He knew His father gave him all things
*We chase the things that give us superficial security
*This is the tragedy of the world today
*Have a deep relationship with our father and pray to our Father
1. Learn frm Jesus
2. Ask God to help you grow
*Ask God to give you grace and cover you with the best armour.

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Sermon of John Wesley: The Almost Christian

13 June 2010

Pastor Andrew Lim

Acts 26: 24-28: As Paul defended himself in this way, Festus shouted at him, "You are mad, Paul! Your great learning is driving you mad!"

Paul answered, "I am not mad, Your Excellency! I am speaking the sober truth. King Agrippa! I can speak to you with all boldness, because you know about these things. I am sure that you have taken notice of every one of them, for this thing has not happened hidden away in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do!"

Agrippa said to Paul, "In this short time do you think you will make me a Christian?"

*an almost Christian's attributes
1. Heathen Honesty
-being good and doing good
-justice for all, against unequality
What the world holds on- the truth
*not cheating, having an honest pay
*place high regards on social works
*Some of Buddhist and Hindu believers do more social works
eg: Feed the hungry, clothe the poor

2. Godliness
2 Timothy 3:5: they will hold to the outward form of our religion, but reject its real power. Keep away from such people.
-having a form of godliness but denying its power
And from such, people turn away!

Almost a Christian will have some form of Godliness
*Strive their best to avoid sin and temptation
*Be peacemakers and won't gossip
*Prefer not to curse
*Do unto others what you want others to do to you
*Seeking to do good in their acts to do kindness
*Giving money, time and energy, ignoring sweat, blood and tears to help and evangelise
*But still is an "almost Christian" only
*An "almost Christian" comes to church with excitement and reads the bible.

*An "almost Christian" has all the high ethics, hidden honest and godliness.
*He does all the things that a Christian does

3. Sincerity
"That is it possible to go thus far, and yet be but almost a Christian, I learn, no only from the oracles of God, but also from the sure testimony of experience." (John Wesley).
*God man avoid sin from the love of virtue.
* Evil man avoid sin from the fear of punishment
*If they just avoid sin because of the fear of punishment, their not even called "an almost Christian"

John Wesley
*A priest
*Had a father who is a priest
*Started to minister, wanted to do good

____________________________________________________________

Mark 12:30: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength
- Characteristics to be a "full Christian"

1. He loves God
*All his emotions, what he does and thinks is for the love of God
*He can truly cry to desire nothing but the love of God
*God is all that matters in a holy Christian

2. He loves his neighbour
Mark 12:31: The second most important commandment is this: 'Love your neighbour as you love yourself.' There is no other commandment more important than these two."
*Your neighbour is every living man in this world especially your enemies
*A love that doesn't judge and define
*An all giving love, sacrificing love
*A love that thinks nothing evil

3. Most important of all- He has TRUE FAITH
*Faith that doesn't lead to repentance is a dead/ devilish faith
*Even the devil believes that Jesus is the Son of God, the only way, the truth and life
*Yet, there is no repentance
*If we believe, but it doesn't change our life, it is a devilish faith
*Not only believe doctrines but full salvation and confidence in his heart
*Has a heart and desire to love God unconditionally
*Thats the standard God require us to be
*The purpose of this topic is not discouraging you, although we may not be at that level, we must never stop striving to reach that standard.

God will help us through
John 21:15: After they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these others do?"

"Yes, Lord," he answered, "you know that I love you."

Jesus said to him, "Take care of my lambs."


**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Monday, June 14, 2010

Expanding Horizons of the Spirit

1 Kings 17:8-24: Then the Lord said to Elijah, "Now go to the town of Zarephath, near Sidon, and stay there. I have commanded a widow who lives there to feed you." So Elijah went to Zarephath, and as he came to the gate of the town,he saw a widow gathering firewood. "Please bring me a drink of water," he said to her. And as she as going to get it, he called out, "And please bring me some bread, too."

She answered, "By the living Lord your God I swear that I haven't got any bread. All I have is a handful of flour in a bowl and a drop of olive-oil in a jar. I came here to gather some firewood to take back home and prepare what little I have for my son and me. That will be our last meal, and then we will starve to death."

"Don't worry." Elijah said to her. "Go ahead and prepare your meal. But first make a small loaf from what you have and bring it to me, and then prepare the rest for you and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: :The bowl will not run out of flour or the jar run out of oil before the day that I, the Lord, send rain.'"

The widow went and did as Elijah had told her, and all of them had enough food for many days. As the Lord had promised through Elijah, the bowl did not run out of flour nor did the jar run out of oil:

Some time later the widow's son fell ill; he got worse and worse, and finally he died. She said to Elijah, "Man of God, why did you do this to me? Did you come here to remind God of my sins and so cause my son's death?"

"Give the boy to me, " Elijah said. He took the boy from her arms, carried him upstairs to the room where he was staying, and laid him on the bed. Then he prayed aloud, "O Lord my God, why have you done such a terrible thing to this widow? She has been kind enough to take care of me, and now you kill her son!" Then Elijah stretched himself out on the boy three times and prayed. "O Lord my God, restore this child to life!"
The Lord answered Elijah's prayer; the child started breathing again and revived.

Elijah took the boy back downstairs to his mother and said to her, "Look, your son is alive!"

She answered, "Now I know that you are a man of God and that the Lord really speaks through you!"

Luke 7:11-17: Soon afterwards Jesus went to a town called Nain, accompanied by his disciples and a large crowd. Just as he arrived at the gate of the town, a funeral procession was coming out. The dead man was the only son of a woman who was a widow, and a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart was filled with pity for her, and he said to her, "Don't cry." Then he walked over and touched her coffin, and the men carrying it stopped. Jesus said, "Young man!Get up, I tell you! The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.

They all were filled with fear and praised God. "A great prophet has appeared among us!" they said; "God has come to save his people!"

This news about Jesus went out through all the country and the surrounding territory.

Rev Dr Hermen Shastri

6 June 2010

*We are in the season of Pentecost
*Without the Holy Spirit, the church is nothing
*The Holy Spirit moves, lightens, inspires the people to the truth of the gospel
*Christ Redeemer and Holy Spirit- the unity of them
*God preserves and protects life
*Whenever we are under threat, we can be sure the Holy Spirit is at work
*What comes from God, created by God, loved by God cannot be destroyed
*Reflected by Paul sending the letter to the Romans
*Gandhi- "So may poor people in the world that God cannot appear to them except in the form of a man."
*There are many people because of poverty, power that faces danger
*What they need is a word and act that gives an assured life

*Matthew 25:37-40: "The righteous will then answer him, 'When, Lord, did we ever see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? When did we ever see you a stranger and welcome you in our homes, or naked and clothe you? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you? The King will reply, ' I tell you, whenever you did this for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did it for me!'

-The Spirit is instrumental, open's opportunities in caring and sharing

*Called to be a blessing not only to others but ourselves as well
*When there is description of pentecost

Acts 2:44-45: They would sell their property and possessions, and distribute the money among all, according to what each one needed.

*Transformation and boldness in living the gospel
*True appreciation of living a simple life of sharing and caring
*How they have been blessed by generosity to the poor and non-believers

2 stories
Elijah and Jesus
*Both handling a widow
*Widows in society of those days-very vulnerable and for sure they were poor and there were restrictions that they could not enjoy a good life
*All these widow's names were not revealed
*They were non-believers and foreigners

Elijah
*Elijah was against false prophets that were brought by Queen Jezebel
*Strange journey for Elijah
-ravens brought food for him
-He will lead with encouragement and strength
-sharing the little the widow has- a bit of flour and water

*It looked like their last meal-but the widow agreed to let Elijah share her food

Jesus
*Very hard for the Jews- for the prophet to defile himself as he was in close proximity with a none believer
*encounter with a santuarian (non believer)
*He said that kind of faith I can't even see in my own people
*She was dressed, wailing and Jesus touched the coffin- defiled as he cannot come in contact with the dead
*Son will be her security for the rest of her life

*These two stories help us appreciate and see where the spirit is working where homes will open for us
*Communion that break down boundaries
*There were exchange with High Priest and the Rabbi

*Luke 4:17: and was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it is written.
-The Rabbi unrolled the scroll and spoke from the book of Isaiah

*Luke 4:26: Yet Elijah was not sent to anyone in Israel, but only to a widow living in Zarephath in the territory of Sidon.
-The Rabbi spoke about Elijah and the widow

Expanding Horizons of the Spirit- makes our living so beautiful
*God is here and everywhere. We will see his love at work into an exciting Christian life.


**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Praying Effectively

Dato Daniel Tay

2 Kings 20:1-18: About this time King Hezekiah fell ill and almost died. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to see him and said to him, "The Lord tells you that you are to put everything in order, because you will not recover. Get ready to die."

Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed : "Remember, Lord, that I have served you faithfully and loyally, and that I have always tried to do what you wanted me to." And he began to cry bitterly.

Isaiah left the king, but before he had passed through the central courtyard of the palace the Lord told him to go back to Hezekiah, ruler of the Lord's people, and say to him, "I, the Lord, the God of your ancestor Daid, hae heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you,and in three days you will go to the Temple. I will let you live fifteen yers longer. I will rescue you and this city of Jerusalem from the emperor of Assyria. I will defend this city, for the sake of my own hnour and because of the promise I made to my servant David."

Then Isaiah told the king's attendants to put on his boil a paste made of figs, and he would get well. King Hezekiah asked, "What is the sign to prove that the Lord will heal me and that three days later I will be able to go to the Temple?"

Isaiah replied, "The Lord will give you a sign to prove that he will keep his promise. Now, would you prefer the shadow on the stairway to go forward ten steps or go back ten steps?"

Hezekiah answered, "Its easy to make the shadow go forward ten steps! Make it go back ten steps."

Isaiah prayed to the Lord, and the Lord made the shadow go back ten steps on the stairway set up by King Ahaz.

About the same time the king of Babylonia, Merodach Baladan, the son of Baladan, heard that King Hezekiah had been ill, so he sent him a letter and a present. Heekiah welcomed the messengers and showed them his wealth - his silver and gold, his spices and perfumes, and all his military equipment. There was nothing in his storerooms or anywhere in his kingdom that he did not show them. Then the prophet Isaiah went to King Hezekiah and asked, "Where did these men come from and what did they say to you?"

Hezekiah answered, "They came from a very distant country, from Babylonia."

"What did they see in the palace?"

"They saw everything. There is nothing in the storerooms that I didin't show them."

Isaiah then said to the king, "The Lord Almighty says that a time is coming when everything in your palace, everything that your ancestors have stored up to this day, will be carried off to Babylonia. Nothing will be left. Some of your own direct descendants will be taken away and made eunuchs to serve in the palace of the king of Babylonia."

King Hezekiah understood this to mean that there would be peace and security during his lifetime, so he replied, "The message you have given me from the Lord is good."

v4- word came back that he would be healed
*God is the same as Hezekiah's time as today

Introduction
Inspiration from nature
*How does a person pray effectively?
*Isaiah said that Hezekiah was going to die
*Isaiah prayed and move the heart of God

Inspiration from invention

Inspiration from prayer

Praying effectively
1. v2 - Turning the face to the wall
*Prayer is the most important thing to Christians
*1 Thessalonians 5:17: (Pray continually): pray at all times
*Matthew 21:13 : (No house celebrationan charity but prayer) : and said to them, "It is written in the Scrptures that God said, 'My Temple will be called a house of prayer.' But you are making it a hideout for thieves!"

*We may do things and think we can get away, but nothing can be done when its too late

2. v2 & 3 - Praying and pleading (to remember his good deeds)
*What makes a prayer special?
*not like chanting
*Remember God by serving in various ministries
*Remember God by walking and doing good
*Nehemiah build the walls of Jerusalem in 52 days
- so many opposition
- says a lot of 'Remember Me' to God
-we can pray to God saying 'Remember Me' anytime
*Holy of Holies - only the High Priest gets to go in. There is a bell with him to notify that he is alive and a rope tied to his leg to pull him out in case there is no sound from him.
- when Christ dies, the curtain separting the Holy of Holies divided, to show that we have direct connection to God and that God is now our High Priest.

3. v3-wept bitterly
* If we don't lead holy lifes, we can't have the posture
*How can you have the posture to weep bitterly and touch God's heart?
*How can we love other nationality like us?

Conclusion
1. Response of World Cup
Man Utd's goalkeeper - Van der Sar manage to defend the goal for 1302 minutes = 15 games of 90 minutes each
*He is known to have a 'safe pair of hands'
*God is our 'safe pair of hands'
*The perfect does not become more perfect. God will always be the same, last time till today
*If we pray like Hezekiah, we will be able to touch the heart of God

2. Response of Hezekiah
*When our prayer is answered, what should we do?
2 Kings 20:12-18: (as stated above)

*The issue was Hezekiah's illness
*Hezekiah forgot the main issue, he addressed his wealth to the King of Babylon
*v16;17: (as stated above)

*He did not show of how he turn his face to the wall, prayed and wept bitterly

3. Response of our Answered Prayers
*Many people would respond:
"I am not Hezekiah, I will not follow his footsteps"
*We are suppose to pray for the success of our children, instead, we pray and boast of how smart our children are
*We pray for promotion because we want and think that we are a self-made man
* All these will cause a person to so easily become a proud person

*We are reminded that when we pray, we cannot ever forget the good things that God has done for us
*We should instead tell people what God has done for us through testimonies
*We should look for inspiration in answered prayers
*In all humility, all things come from God

*"The Lord of God is one, we will have to love God with all heart, soul and strength and love our neighbour as ourselves."



**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Friday, May 28, 2010

Peace Begins At Home

Mr Steven Ooi

MYF SUNDAY!

23rd May 2010

Matthew 5:9: "Happy are those who work for peace; God will call them his children!"

*It is so easy to be naive in peace
*When 2 or 3 people come together, there will eventually be conflict
*Satan loves when we backstab
*If we don't have peace, we have forgotten that we belong to one-another (quoted by Mother Theresa)
*Lack of peace is so pervasive
*Conflict between Adam & Eve, Cain & Abel that lead to a brother's death
*Continuous conflict, Jesus showed us 'Blessed ar the peacemakers, for they become the Sons of God -Matthew 5:9

*Not reaching options or ideas- the 8 beattitudes marks off Jesus Christ to follow him whole heartedly
*One of the fruits of the Spirit - Peace

Phil Morgan
1. Peace Breakers
Romans 16:17-18: I urge you, my brothers: watch out for those who cause divisions and upset people's faith and go against the teaching which you have recieved. Keep away from them! For those who do such things are not serving Christ our Lord, but their own appetites. By their fine words and flattering speech they deceive innocent people.

God's heart is rebuild in Psalm 133:1: How wonderful it is, how pleasant, for God's people to live together in harmony!

*Can peace be broken without knowledge?
*Have you been pushing any buttons lately?
*It is easier to break than create peace


2. Peace Fakers or Peace Keepers
Ephesians 4:25 : No more lying, then! Everyone must tell the truth to his fellow-believer, because we are all members together in the body of Christ.

-put off falsehood and speak truthfully
Members of 1 body
*If things are not resolve and when peace is being tried so hard, it is harder to resolve


3. Peace Makers-to do (strong word), to create
*Must be actively made- not by chance
*Often messy work
*Peace must be pursued and guarded
*A peace maker builds a bridge in spite of all the stones
*Hatred looks for a victim and peace wins the victory

12 Principles of Peace
1. Peace must be pursued
Romans 14:19: So then, we must always aim at those things that bring peace and that help to strengthen one another.

Psalm 34:14: Turn away from evil and do good; strive for peace with all your heart

Ephesians 4:3: Do your best to perserve the unity which the Spirit gives by means of the peace that binds you together.

1 Thessalonians 5:13: Treat them with the greatest respect and love because of the work they do. Be at peace among yourselves.


2. Being a peacemaker can be lonely
Psalm 120:6,7: I have lived too long with people who hate peace!
When I speak of peace, they are for war.

3. Peace must be prayed for
Psalm 122:6: Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May those who love you prosper.

4. The Promoter of peace finds joy
Proverbs 12:20: Those who plan evil are in for a rude surprise, but those who work for good will find happiness.

5. Pleasing  God is a prerequisite for peace
Proverbs 16:7: When you please the Lord, you can make your enemies into friends.

6. Those who bring peace have beautiful feet
Isaiah 2:17: Human pride will be ended, and human arrogance will be destroyed.

7. Jesus gives peace unlike any other
John 14:27: "Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid.

8. Churches grow during times of peace
Acts 9:21: All who heard him were amazed and asked, "Isn't he the one who in Jerusalem was killing those who worship that man Jesus? And didin't he come here for the very purpose of arresting those people and taking them back to the chief priests?"

"grew in numbers living in the fear of the Lord"

9. We must do everything possible to live at peace
Romans 12:18: Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody.

10. Peace is a directive from the God of peace
1 Corinthians 7:15: However, if the one who is not a believer wishes to leave the Christian partner let it be so. In such cases the Christian partner, whether husband or wife, is free to act. God has called you to live in peace.

2 Corinthians 13:11 :And now, my brothers, good-bye! Strive for perfection; listen to my appeals; agree with one another; live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

Colossians 3:15: The peace that Christ gives is to guide you in the decisions you make; for it is to this peace that God has called you together in the one body. And be thankful.

11.Righteousness is rewarded to peacemakers
James 3:18: And goodness is the harvest that is produced from the seeds the peacemakers plant in peace.

12. Jesus is the model of peace
Ephesians 2:14-17: For Christ himself has brought us peace by making Jews and Gentiles one people.With his own body he broke down the wall that separated them and kept them enemies. He abolished the Jewish Law with its commandments and rules, in order to create out of the two races one new people in union with himself, in this way making peace. By his death on the cross Christ destroyed ther enmity; by means of the cross he united both races into one body nd brought them back to God. So Christ came and preached the Good News of peace to all - to you Gentiles, who were far away from Gd, and to the Jews, who were near to him.

*Making peace is also found in the beattitude

Rewards for peacemakers
1. We are all blessed when we make peace
2. This beattitude ends with an intriguing phrase
"For they will be called Sons of God"

*Officially designated of holding particular rank like a chairman
*Own or know or recognize as what they really are -children of God, child of the Prince of Peace
*Peacemakers bears a family resemblance you will reflect the character of Father in heaven
*If you want to resemble God, be a peacemaker
*Would God be happy or sad for you to make peace?

*Until we put these into actions, they are just words

Action steps:
1. Make sure you're at peace with God
Malachi 3:8-10: I ask you, is it right for a person to cheat God? Of course not, yet you are cheating me. 'How?' you ask. In the matter of tithes and offerings. A curse is on all of you because the whole nation is cheating me. Bring the full amount of your tithes to the Temple, so that there will be plenty of food there.Put me to the test and you will see that I will open the windows of heaven and pour our on you in abundance all kinds of good things.

Ephesians 2:3: Actually all of us were like them and lived according to our natural desires, doing whatever suited the wishes of our own bodies and minds. In our natural condition we, like everyone else, were destined to suffer God's anger.

*We don't have peace unless you have peace in God
*Awesome privilege to be in work with God
*No country with peace unless peace resides within its community and unless they surrender to the Prince of Peace

2. Lead others to be at peace with God
2 Corinthians 5:15:He died for all, so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but only for him who dies and was rised to life for their sake.

*Our Lord Jesus Christ entrusted mission, go and make disciples- the great commission
*Make things right / forgive and seek forgiveness

3. Be at peace with those around you
*Do you need to settle problems with anyone?

4. Help others who are in conflict
*The peacemakers' pledge
*Peacemakers release tension, strive for resolution
2 Thessalonians 3:16  - The Benediction


"May the Lord Himself, who is our source of peace, give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with you all."




**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Ascension of the Lord

"Keys To A Lively And Healthy Faith"

Rev Wong Onn Thau

16 May 2010

Mark 14:32-36: They came to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." He took Peter, James, and John with him. Distress and anguish came over him, and he said to them, "The sorrow in my heart is so great that is almost crushes me. Stay here and keep watch."

He went a little further on, threw himself on the ground, and prayed that, if possible, he might not have to go through that time of suffering. "Father, " he prayed, "My Father! All things are possible for you. Take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet not what I want, but what you want."

*How do we keep our faith alive, vibrant and healthy?
*Faithful clues are found in the garden of Gethsemane

4 keys of a lively and vibrant faith
1. Continue to pray hard
*Prayer is important
*Jesus was a man of prayer, can't escape that fact
*If Jesus needed to pray, how much more should we pray
*Jesus wanted to be in touch with his father
*Prayer is conversation and friendship with God
*If we don't pray, our faith will shrink, shrivel and die
*When they face trouble, they don't know how to pray
*We don't need a special language to communicate with God

2. Continue to grow and learn
*Study, question and clear the air
*Jesus was open to new truth in the garden
*When we stop growing and learning, our faith will shrink, shrivel and die
*Sometimes our faith have not even pass standard 1
*We need God to nourish, water and sunlight us to grow

3. We must continue to obey God
*Jesus was obedient "Not what I want but what you want"
*Come what may obedience
*The land of faith that would not die- rooted in Christian "thy will be done obedience"

4. Determination and Perserverance
*Jesus had every reason to drop out
*"Father into your hands, I commit"
*Don't quit on the church
*When things are going against us, we often quit
*Paul had a co-worker which is very capable but not well known
Why? because he quit, He was Demas

2 Timothy 4:9-11: Do your best to come to me soon. Demas fell in love with this present world and has deserted me, going off to Thessalonica. Crescens wet to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, becaus he can help me in the work.



**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

God Offers a Better Deal

Rev Yew Nieng Song

9 May 2010

Hebrews 3:1-4,7: My Christian brothers, who also have been called by God! Think of Jesus, whom God sent to be the High Priest of the faith we profess. He was faithful to God, who chose him to do his work, just as Moses was faithful in his work in God's house. A man who builds a house receives more honour than the house itself. In the same way Jesus is worthy of much greater honour than Moses. Every house, of course, is built by someone- and God is the one who has built all things.

So then, as the Holy Spirit says,
"If you hear God's voice today"

*Revival is dangerous- cause us to give up our own ways
                                 -your time is not your time but God's time
*God is offering something much better
*Lead by the Spirit = children of God
*We are Christians but not leading things that are discern by God
*we are using carnal man to interpret life
*God did not answer our prayer - God is trying to get our attention
                                                  - work contrary to God
*Changing progressively into Jesus Christ
*If blessings are not coming in the right way, ask God if there is something wrong
*Do you know what it means to be a Christian?
*Seek God's will to know what is your destiny
*Galatians 2:14: When I saw that they were not walking a straight path in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you have been living like a Gentile, not like a Jew. How, then, can you try to force Gentiles to live like Jews?"

*God is the way, close other doors
*Jesus mission statement 'It is not complicated'
*Kingdom of God, darkness & man -those are the things we often struggle
*but Jesus is more superior
*Jesus is the message, angels are the messenger
*Church- Your at the centre
*He has an appointment here with us
*He is calling us at every church service
*You need to follow God's ways
*Do not be conform to this world but be transform by the renewing of the mind
*Many of us are settle in a comfortable life getting blessings from the church
*Hebrews author says there are things that hinder us knowing the word of God
*We are not recieving the healing of God, but we are to claim the promises of God
*We need faith to remain in that wholeness
*Hebrews - book of better things - things that rust and moth cannot destroy
*If everyone does the work of God, this adds on to revival
*We will not be in heaven forever because a new earth and heaven will be here on earth (read the book of revelation, the last book).
*So do good now to collect back the blessings soon
*Who are you living for?
*Many of us miss the mark and are living in the flesh - thats why we have many problems
*"Now the new way has come, Christ is the better way"
*We have the word of God as the light to our feet
*If a wive does not submit to husband, children will be argueing with you
*Thats why repentence are needed
*Author of Hebrews concludes with greetings
*It is a privilege to serve the most high God
*We are serving to the best
*God has better things to plan for our church
*Then, read the bible first
*Learn to give tithes
*Who knows you? If you know God knows you, he will bless you.
*Learn to let go off the good things and grab hold of the things God wants you to have instead.


**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**